Omaha daily bee., 1887-06-03
FORTY.TOUR ROUNDS FOUGHT
A Rafting Mill Up the Hudson Between
Files and Reagan.
THE FORMER KNOCKED OUT
Leavenworth Defeats Omaha ia a
Well Played Game BY q Score of
@ to 5-The Thistle Again
Victorious-Sporta

to the BEE. The third attempt to effect
hard glove fight between Jack Files, of Chi
cago, and John Reagan, of Brooklyn, for
Sl,400 in stakes, gate receipts and $50 aside
bet, which the pugilists made between them
selves in the ring, was successful last night.
The men fought for nearly three hours in a
dancing pavilion thirty miles up the Hudson
and Reagan won by q knock-O blow on
Files jaw in the forty-fourth round. About
100 spectators were present, although the
greatest efforts were made to keep the place
of meetingsand 1the departure of the excur-
sion steamer with the men and their hackers
profound secret. The battle was one of the
best ever witnessed. .Both men fought coolly
and carefully. 1t seemed after the terrible
rally in the tenth round that Reagan could
have won earlier had he gone in to force
matters, but a careful adviser who stood in
his corner would allow him to take no
chances. Once Files second told him to rush
the fighting, thinking Reagan was dazed, but
the youngster could hit with the veteran
every time. The men shook hands at the
call of time for the first round at little after
midnight. Both held very high guards.
Reagan led three times before
Files responded at ALL but he avoided each
attempt of his opponent with ease. Files
straight-countered once hard on the mouth
of Rea lan, who beautifully ducked wicked
left-hander a second later and then forced
Files to the ropes, banging at his body with
both hands. The seventh round found both
men still cautious, but Files sent in his right
and won the first knock down. Reagan
sprang up and rushed in, but Files had the
ropes, and his friends were jubllant when
the men went to their corners. Flies got in
a splendid left,hander as they met for the
next round and won first blood-the double
Rnnpon'S friends
were uprOarouS as he sent Reagan's blood
flying with another blow on the nose. Rea-
gan's eye was now black and swollen and
Files cheek cut and bleeding, as was his left
side. They spared a moment and cut righr
in and fought the hardest round of the battle.
The exchanging in the middle of the ring
was terrific. They exchanged both hands
and the spectators held their breath and
shouted themselves hoarse alternately. Files
had the best of it. but could not get in that
knockout blow that he was dying to land:
The excitement was intense. The next hard
great fighting. Files was forced to the
ropes. Reagan won his first knock-down in
the thirty. fourth round. pushing Files to the
ropes and knocking him clear outside the
following rounds. Tracey asked Power,
Reagan's second, in the forty-second round,
tor little resin for his man's feet. The re-
quest was readily adj granted; This round was
| one. Reagan had thugs his own way now.
lie banged Files on the jaw and sent him to
the ropes as he pleased. The veteran, with 9
blood streaming from his ears and mouth
responded gamely. The Brooklyn. boy was
all too strong for poor Files in the forty-third
round. Tracey claimed foul so often that
any tghting. The forty-fourth round lasted
less than two minutes. Files was rushed
| from one part of the ring to another, and a
right-handed smash on the jaw sent him to
the floor on his head. His mead struck the
| floor, and when the time keepers said ten
seconds were up he lay there still, Three
cheers were given for Johnnie Reagan, well
| ter weight champion OF America. The men
were hurried aboard the steamer and her
| lines cast off. They had been at it four MN
utes short of three hours, and it was now al
most daylight. Files hands were badly in
| jured.